The Harare hara-kiri
Sikandar Raza (top pic) and Dushmantha Chameera claimed three scalps for their team’s, their efforts equally matching but in contrasting outcomes - Pix courtesy Sameera Peiris in Harare, Zimbabwe
Sri Lanka’s batting imploded in Harare as Zimbabwe registered a ruthless 5-wicket victory to level the three-match T20I series 1-1, ahead of the decider at the same ground today. Batting first, Charith Asalanka’s men were reduced to a sorry total of just 80 in 17.4 overs, marking their second-lowest score in T20 internationals. The modest target proved no challenge for Zimbabwe, who reached it with 34 balls to spare, highlighting the depth of Sri Lanka’s self-inflicted crisis.
What made the collapse even more humiliating was the benign nature of the pitch. It offered no demons, no sharp turners, or no seam movement. Sri Lanka’s meltdown was almost entirely of their own making, a mixture of reckless shot selection, muddled running, and an alarming lack of composure. Zimbabwe’s disciplined bowling and alert fielding merely capitalised on the visitors’ errors.
The tone was set immediately by Zimbabwe’s pace attack. Blessing Muzarabani struck in the second over, removing Kusal Mendis with a short ball, signalling the start of a top-order rout. Pathum Nissanka offered fleeting resistance with a boundary, only to be lured into a miscue by Brad Evans and brilliantly caught at deep square. From 17-2, the collapse gathered pace as Muzarabani returned to dismiss Nuwanidu Fernando cheaply, leaving Sri Lanka reeling at 24-3.
Evans then knocked back Kamil Mishara’s off stump with a precise yorker, while Kamindu Mendis fell lbw to Sikandar Raza without troubling the scorers. By the end of the powerplay, Sri Lanka were in complete disarray at 37-5. Former captain Dasun Shanaka struggled to reach 15 before edging to short third man, and even Asalanka, who scored 18, was bowled attempting a risky late cut against Raza. The off-spinner’s clever variations yielded 3/11 from four overs, leaving no hope of recovery.
The batting collapse extended to the tail. Dushmantha Chameera was trapped lbw by Raza, while a poor mix-up between Maheesh Theekshana and Dushan Hemantha, who was led to a needless run out. Only Mishara (20 off 20), Asalanka and Shanaka reached double figures. Zimbabwe’s bowlers were relentless, with Evans, Muzarabani and Raza exploiting every mistake, helping them complete a clinical team performance.
Chasing a mere 81, Zimbabwe approached the target with patience rather than flamboyance. Tadiwanashe Marumani made a brisk start with a couple of boundaries, but Chameera’s new-ball spell of 4-0-19-3 kept the hosts in check, removing Sean Williams and Sikandar Raza cheaply. At 27-3 in the sixth over, Zimbabwe appeared tentative, but Brian Bennett and Ryan Burl steadied the innings with careful strike rotation and calm, measured batting.
Wickets fell at intervals, but Zimbabwe’s lower middle order showed composure. Musekiwa’s late boundaries eased the tension, and Burl guided the innings home with authority. Even as
Sri Lanka’s bowlers continued probing, the damage had already been done.
Sri Lanka’s 80-run total was more than disappointing; it was disastrous. A brittle top order, poor shot execution, and lack of composure turned a competitive T20I into a capitulation. Zimbabwe, by contrast, executed their game plan with discipline and patience, with Raza, Muzarabani, Evans, and Williams combining to completely dismantle the visitors’ batting.
| Scoreboard | |
| Sri Lanka Pathum Nissanka c Munyonga b Evans 08 Kusal Mendis c Ngarava b Muzarabani 01 Kamil Mishara b Evans 20 Nuwanidu Fernando c Raza b Muzarabani 01 Charith Asalanka b Raza 18 Kamindu Mendis lbw b Raza 00 Dasun Shanaka c Maposa b Williams 15 Dushan Hemantha run out 07 Dushmantha Chameera lbw b Raza 00 Maheesh Theekshana c Raza b Evans 06 Binura Fernando not out 00 Extras (b1, lb2, nb1) 04 Total (all out; 17.4 overs) 80 Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Kusal M, 1.1ov), 2-17 (Nissanka, 3.3ov), 3-24 (Nuwanidu, 4.5ov), 4-37 (Mishara, 5.4ov), 5-38 (Kamindu M, 6.5ov), 6-64 (Shanaka, 12.6ov), 7-66 (Asalanka, 13.3ov), 8-66 (Chameera, 13.5ov), 9-79 (Hemantha, 17.1ov), 10-80 (Theekshana, 17.4ov) Bowling: Richard Mgarava 2-0-11-0, Blessing Muzarabani 3-0-14-2, Brad Evans 2.4-0-15-3, Sikandar Raza 4-0-11-3, Tinotenda Maposa 2-0-7-0, Sean Williams 4-0-19-1 Zimbabwe Brian Bennett c and b B. Fernando 19 Tadiwanashe Marumanu c Kusal M b Chameera 17 Sean Williams b Chameera 00 Sikandar Raza b Chameera 02 Ryan Burl not out 20 Tony Munyonga lbw b Theekshana 03 Tashinga Musekiwa not out 21 Extra (w2) 02 Total (5 wickets; 14.2 overs) 84 Did not bat: Ryan Burl, Tashinga Musekiwa, Brad Evans, Tinotenda Maposa, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani Fall of wickets: 1-20 (Marumani, 3.2ov), 2-20 (Williams, 3.4ov), 3-27 (Raza, 5.4ov), 4-53 (Bennett, 9.3ov), 5-61 (Munyonga, 11.2ov) Bowling: Binura Fernando 3-0-14-1, Maheesh Theekshana 4-0-28-1, Dushmantha Chameera 4-0-19-3, Dushan Hemantha 3.2-0-23-0 |